O, if thou weep'st by grief distressed,
To think of me with danger prest,
Be calm, God keeps me every where,
A faithful soldier is his care!
Or we follow with insatiate ear the accord which sends to us through the stillness of the night a full concert of wind music. There, under the window, see we scattered light glimmer, and by degrees perceive the separate music-desks, round which the dark figures have ranged themselves. But the third piece is ended, and all sinks back into the stillness of night. Many a son of the Muses is detained in Ruperto-Carolo, fast bound by bonds of gentle witchcraft, till the father's stern behest compels him to tear himself from this paradise.
[THE DEPARTURE.]
What rings and what sings in the streets so down there?
Open the windows, ye maids so fair.
'Tis the Bursche, away he windeth,
The Comitat him attendeth.
The others go shouting and wave their hats round,
With ribands and flowers all glowingly crowned;
But the Burschè, he loves not this riot,
In the centre goes pale and quiet.
Loud clash now the tankards, bright sparkles the wine,
"Drink out, and again drink, dear brother mine!"
"With the farewell-wine there outfloweth,
What so deep in my heart now gloweth."
The very last house which they go by--
A maiden looks down from the window so high;
Fain hides she her tearful gushes
With wallflowers rich and sweet rose-bushes.
The very last house that they go by
The Burschè there lifteth up his eye;
Then sinks it, his pain betraying,--
His hand on his heart now laying.
"Sir Brother! and hast thou then no bouquet?
See, flowers there are nodding and waving so gay!
Hillo! thou loveliest dear one,--
Of thy nosegays now fling us here one!"
'Ye Brothers! what can that nosegay do?
I now have no loving Liebschen like you.
In the sun it will droop and wither;--
The wind blow it hither and thither!'